Blogging Through The Complete Works Of Francis Schaeffer

A few years ago I had the great pleasure of being introduced to the works of Francis Schaeffer. He was first and foremost an evangelist and a pastor who sought to speak Christianity to the world he lived in. He believed that the Christian worldview alone could speak to modern man and his need. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend his documentary (and companion book) "How Should We Then Live?". Not long ago, I was able to buy his complete works from a former professor (for 20 bucks no less!) and have had them sitting on my book shelf ever since. It's time I take them out and read them.

In honor of Dr. Schaeffer's 100th Birthday, I shall be reading all five volumes of his complete works and will be blogging my way through them. It's something I'll be working on for the rest of the year. I will also be reading through some thoughtful criticisms and evaluations of Schaeffer's work. What I really want is to learn from a man who's writings are still making a mark in people today and hopefully see how his ideas speak to where I'm at in my time and space. My first post will be next week. Til then, here is a post I did last week on the anniversary of his 100th birthday. I posted video of his sermon titled "A Christian Manifesto"

Live From The Desiring God Conference

Friday Night
6:36-Registered for the conference and got a free book!


All attendants got a free copy of John Piper's Think. "It's your ticket in". Best ticket ever :)


So far I've met a friend and fellow blogger, and made friends with the good people at The Gospel for OC. I can't wait to see their coverage of this event. If you're following along, there's after party tomorrow as well.


7:08- The event should have started, but we're still waiting for people to make it. The place is definitely getting packed.


7:11-Rick Warren is up front shaking hands. That was random.


7:13- I should add that the event is very diverse. Lot's of Asians, Hispanic, White, Young, Old, Geek, Chic, etc... It truly is good to worship God with so many people from many backgrounds.

7:24-"You look like Franklin Graham, but better looking" Rick Warren said that to my Pastor. It's true, he does look like Franklin Graham.


7:34-Finally starting. Scott Anderson has given a great welcome.


8:05-Great time of worship. Now, Rick Warren is giving an introduction to tonight's message, and an encouragement to follow the leaders in our lives.


8:07 -Dr. Piper takes the state. Rick Warren is much bigger than him.


8:12-Why does he do this? Because it makes him happy. There are truth's that are just strong enough to still our boat when it is being rocked by things going on in the world. What is the origin of the book Desiring God? It was born out of the moral issue of being happy. At least it's in the Bible, so his back is covered.


8:14 The problem of motivation became a problem. Paul writes that it is good to be alone and living for other's. But he wanted to get married and be a minister. I want, I want, I want, I can't stop wanting. Human beings were made to want.


8:16 John PIper just started singing "Wouldn't it be nice" by the Beach Boys :) That is how he was feeling when he was engaged.


8:18 5 Steps
 1. God and what motivates him
      -How my wants relates to his wants.
      -God is into being God. He has no one to report to but himself.
 2. He bids all of us to join him in the goal that he be glorified.
 3. The most important discovery: God is most glorified in me, when I am most satisfied in him.
     -This is the banner that must fly over our lives.
 4. The implications: We should devote our lives to being happy....in God.
    -We must maximize our joy.
   -Love is like a high pressure zone, that just wants to fill massive pockets of joylessness.
  -It must expand to other people.
 5. This is the only path to radical love for other people.


8:39- What drives God as the cross? Christ took on God’s wrath to show God’s righteousness. There is a link between sin and glory. People lack the glory of God.

It is God’s unwavering commitment to uphold the value of his glory. He didn’t sweep sin away, he dumped it on his son. Every day I wake up and say I’m not in hell, it’s a good day where I belong.

God does everything to display the infinite value of his Glory.

8:43 We are asked by God to join him in this goal. 1 Peter 4:11 Let him who serves, serve in the strength that God supplies, so that in everything GOd may get the glory.  Be the receiver. We do the good works, God get's the glory.

8:59 -point 3: God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

It’s called desiring god, not arriving at joy in god, this isn’t finished sanctification, this is war. Don’t think any of your teachers is Jesus, none of us measure up to what we preach. John Piper

The Trinity: The nature of the Trinity is a reason for why God has designed us so that he is most satisfied in us when we are most satisfied in him.


They are 3 divine persons, one essence (appreciate the difficulty). The father has always had an image of himself, he’s always known himself, this knowledge is so full of all he is, that this self known is a fully divine person. The energy and love that flows between father and son (each with divine perfections) carries in it him, all he is, and a third person is there, The Spirit. So at the heart of God’s being is God knowing and God enjoying.



When he made us, he made our souls with two main capacities, the capacity to know and feel. What about will? The capacity to will and feel are the same.

9:07- God is glorified not only by his glories being seen, but in their being rejoiced in-Jonathan Edwards.

Phil 1:20-23  Why would death be gain? When he’s about to lose everything, and all he gets is Jesus. He’s losing everything but HIM.

9:19 -C.S. Lewis was a sceptic at 29. God’s constant command for us to praise him, is like an old woman wanting complements. Matthew 10:34-39 Some people would see Jesus’s words as an egomaniac.

Piper uses an ad for granola bars to make a point. Two people at the top of the mountain, “you never felt more alive, you never felt more insignificant”. Who are they marketing to? Do people like to feel insignificant? WHy do they go to the grand canyon, to feel big? Here’s the ad http://bit.ly/jECQ8f

Lewis realized that we praise what is praiseworthy. God is ultimately praiseworthy.

11:43 -Final Update
Wow, what a day! Dr. Piper has a lot of energy and passion for the message of joy in God. I'm really glad I got to meet some old friends, and made some new ones. Keep checking here and at twitter.com/frankfusion for my updates tomorrow.

New Blog Alert!!!!!!

If you have the time visit Alan Jabob's page at Culture 11. Culture11 is in itself an interesting blog for young thinkers to visit as well. It was good of them to invite a season English Professor from Wheadon to contribute his thoughts. I dare say he seems to be as well read as Al Mohler (who has an impressive blog himself). Check out his inaugural post. Here's a quote from his first post

Hello, and welcome to a new blog about technologies of reading and research and, well, knowledge. I’m not going to turn this first post into a manifesto, because manifestos tend to be a lot more boring than they’re meant to be, and in any case if you hang around you’ll see what I’m up to. But in brief:

I’m a fifty-year-old professor of English and therefore, as you might suspect, a lifelong reader. Books and magazines have been near the core of my identity since I learned to read at age three. I love the printed word and think that it embodies a set of technologies whose virtues can’t be replaced by other media. But I also have a deep interest in and attachment to the online world; I tend to get pretty excited about what I can do, what I can learn, what I can read, and in general what I can experience online.

Visit his page and tell him I sent you. Oh I should add that he likes books as much as I do, so thats one other reason I endorsed him here.

Gracias

Thanks to all of you who visit the blog. It's been cool to get so much feedback from ya'll. I believe I decided it would be Q and A this week. SO throw your questions at me. I'll do my best to give you and answer. Thanks again for your help. Don't forget to tell all your friends about the blog. If you do I'll give you a special prize. Hmm not sure what it should be.

My 200th Post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, it's been 200 posts and here we are. Wow. Somehow 100 seemed a stretch. But, thanks to all of you who have been with me from the start. To all my friends at FCC, Biblical thought, consistent visitors (Josh and Lydia and Jonathan) Thanks. So as a thanks to you, I'm opening up for Q and A. Ask me whatever you want (keep it PG-13!!!) and I will do my best to answer. It goes without saying saying these are to be of a theological or philosophical nature. Thanks to all of you. I do have some plans for the future. These Include:
1. A New Page
2. Getting into vlogging
3. Some more serious lenghty pieces (including some thinking I have about relevance)
4. Taking a friend's suggestion and sharing some of my past struggles. (A possible series I'm currently calling "Spiritual Street Smarts")

Thanks to all of you. We did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Blog Alert: Biblical Theology Blog

It's always good to see the birth of a new blog. Today marks the start of Biblical Theology. According to their web site

This blog exists for the glory of God, in service to the church, to promote the study and discussion of biblical theology’s history, methodology, aims, achievements, developments, direction, and points of contact with other approaches to the study of the Bible. This will be a collaborative effort...

I just wish these guys were around when I took Old Testament Theology. One of themis the author of "From Eden to the New Jerusalem". I would have had a million questions for them (Ok not close to that, but approaching that). Feel free to visit these guys and make them feel welcome. And don't forget to tell them Fusion! sent you.

70 HITS!!!!

Hey, apparently I got about 70 hits on Saturday. A high spike. I wonder if it has to do with:
word of mouth?
My links on facebook/myspace?
People looking for info on Todd Bentley who found my page?
Miscellaneous?

LEAVE A COMMENT and tell me how you found me and what I can do to update things on the page. What do you want me to put up this week? As a thank you, I will put up links to pages, youtube clips, (reasonable) conspiracy theories, whatever I deem is fit for the blog. Come at it folks. Here's a starter. A response to my Ghostbusters clip from Friday.

"Pay grade" quote draws heat

As I mentionedObama's "above my pay grade" quote would probably haunt him. It already is. Look at some of the responses at Reuters blog, let me start with two of the more thoughtful responses I found before I get to the more humorous ones:

Unbelievable. To respond to one of the most controversial subjects in politics today as it is “above my pay-grade” should automatically disqualify him from seeking this office! A President has to make “life or death” decisions and not to know when life begins seriously questions by belief that Senator O’Bama is a Christian…in the sense that it is not an answer on a biological questionaire. Coupled with his position that he actively opposed legislative attempts to provide comfort to babies who survived abortions.
Moreover, he basically called America a selfish nation. We are the most-giving nation in the history of this planet. Whenever there is a disaster, America is there to give, give and give. We, the citizens, give more money to charitable causes per capita than any other citizens of any nation on this earth. … despite the fact that we pay almost 40 percent of our income in taxes to federal, state and local governments!

The Democratic Party’s position is that abortion should be legal because a fetus is just a clump of cells with no human rights.
If the procedure is no different from, say, the removal of an unwanted mole–which is essentially what the argument for legalization is–then why expend resources to reduce its frequency?


Above his pay grade? He is running for the President of the United States of America! How much higher of a pay grade do you want?

If the issue is above his paygrade perhaps Barack is applying for the wrong job.

Change we can see through.

If he can’t answer because it is above his pay grade then why should we put him in the top job? It will remain above his pay grade when he returns to the Senate.


“…above my pay grade”. Good one, Obama. You just gave the Republicans a new tag line. There’s no higher “pay grade” than being president. Like Harry Truman said, “The Buck Stops Here.

As a current Senator, especially one seeking the presidency, these questions are “at your pay-grade.”


So these babies aren’t even the ‘least of his brothers’????? You can’t get much more ‘least’ than a baby, born or unborn.

Are you kidding?????? Above his paygrade????? Presidents are paid to have convictions.

At what “pay grade” can one have an opinion?

It goes on, but you get the point. More to come I'm sure. This is one that really got to me:

I am pro-choice but after hearing 40 million abortions have taken place since Roe V Wade does make me think twice.

Funny blog post from a funny blog

Here's my newest find. Thefoolsgold.net A very funny blog from someone who goes to John Piper's Bethlehem Institute. Very funny.


Some Things You (Probably) Won’t See Graffitied on a Wall

1. Take your vitamins!
2. I ran out of whitewash and had to use this instead.
3. You know…I am far too ethnocentric.
4. How’s my penmanship?
5. I think Aristotle had a point.
6. SM + RW = Sempiternal affection (with a heart around it, of course)
7. Deep down, I’m a preservationist.
8. I think you’re great!
9. Oops…sorry. You can paint over this.
10. Romans 13:1
11. There. I just drew a perfect circle.

A Special Honor

The good people at Worshipmatters.com had a contest a few weeks ago asking people why worship matters. They liked my response and I will be receiving a copy of Bob Kauflin's book as a prize and I will be reviewing it as soon as I get it. Many thanks to the Kauflin's. Here is the description of the book and people who gave an endorsement. Kauflin is one of the worhsip leaders at Sovereign Grace.

-Combining biblical foundations with real-world application, a pastor and professional songwriter guides worship leaders and pastors to root their corporate worship in unchanging scriptural principles rather than divisive trends.

Nothing is more essential than knowing how to worship the God who created us. This book focuses readers on the essentials of God-honoring worship, combining biblical foundations with practical application in a way that works in the real world. The author, a pastor and noted songwriter, skillfully instructs pastors, musicians, and church leaders so that they can root their congregational worship in unchanging scriptural principles, not divisive cultural trends. Bob Kauflin covers a variety of topics such as the devastating effects of worshiping the wrong things, how to base our worship on God’s self-revelation rather than our assumptions, the fuel of worship, the community of worship, and the ways that eternity’s worship should affect our earthly worship.

Appropriate for Christians from varied backgrounds and for various denominations, this book will bring a vital perspective to what readers think they understand about praising God.

“Bob loves God, values theology, and cares about people. This mix is found throughout this wonderful and helpful book. Worship Matters will inspire you as a worshiper and spur you on as a leader of worship.”
Matt Redman, lead worshiper and song-writer, Brighton, UK

“Bob Kauflin is teaching a new generation to take corporate worship seriously in a fashion that is simultaneously biblically faithful and addressing today’s culture.”
D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“This book is thoroughly biblical, comprehensive, balanced, clear, and engaging. Worship leaders must read it, and it will be a great help to anyone interested in finding out what biblical worship is about and how to worship from the heart.”
John Frame, Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary

“Bob’s approach is humble, yet authoritative; comprehensive, yet inspirational. And if you take his gentle but clear teaching onboard, it will help make you fully equipped in mind, heart, and spirit to lead others in worship. I wholeheartedly recommend it.”
Stuart Townend, Christian song-writer

“An outstanding book both for those who lead worship and also for every Christian who wants to worship God more fully. The book is biblical, practical, interesting, wise, and thorough in its treatment of the topic. The next time I teach on worship, I plan to make this the required text.”
Wayne Grudem, Research Professor of Bible and Theology, Phoenix Seminary

“Humility. Self-deprecating humor. Practical wisdom. And not just for music leaders. What a refreshing read! I’ve gained from Bob Kauflin, and if you read this, you will too.”
Mark Dever, Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church; Executive Director, 9Marks Ministries

“Bob is a pastor, a teacher, and a skilled musician. And this book captures his heart, his zealous pursuit of God, and his many years of real-life experience leading worship. That’s why his book deserves the careful study of pastors and worship leaders alike.”
Joshua Harris, Senior Pastor, Covenant Life Church, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Blogger Appreciation Day

The good people at Said At Southern, have joined with others in declaring today Blogger Appreciation Day. Well, I want to shoot out a few thanks to people's blogs and why they matter.

1. Alpha and Omega Ministries
AOMIN is the blog where James White blogs at. Great articles and insight accompany the blog. I highly recommend it.

2. Purgatorio

Purgatorio was mentioned as a blog of note, however, it bears mentioning it again. Funny reformed humor. I hope you read his "You might be emergent it..." post. It's classic.

3. Tom-in-the-box-news-network

I've said it before: reformed people have the best humor. Here's a sampling of what you'll find in this fake news service:

Rick Warren joins together for the gospel.
Turbo tithe-so you won't tithe more than you have to.
Don't slay me bro! An article dealing with Benny Hinn slaying a heckler.
And.....











4. FIDE-O
The guys at fide-o have the biggest blog roll I've seen. Updated frequently, you'll also get their thoughts on sports, and theolgy. Very good page.

5. Challies
Time Challies is truly the Christian book guru. I pale in comparison to his ongoing book reviews, celebrity interviews and cultural insight. Visit his page now!!!!!!

6. Perez Hilton
WHAT? Indeed, I peruse his page from time to time. I like hearing about the foibles of celebs as much as anyone else. But, in a very weird way this guy is becoming the new Matt Drudge. He's got the pulse on what's going on culturally and has a new record contract and a radio show. Trends, news, and even political and moral ideas come out of his blog. (You have to look really close!). This page is definitely PG-17. But, if you want to see where our culture is (a part of it anyway) go here. If only to know what the false prophets are saying.

7. CARM
Not a blog, but CARM is truly one of my favorite theology pages to visit. If you want a good answer to a theological question, you'll find it here. Go here now!!!!


8. Monergism


Moner-what? Monergism is the idea that God does all the saving. Even the faith I use comes from him. Thus Monergism.com has compiled thousands of theological articles from the reformed perspective showing that God truly is sovereign in salvation and in all of the Christian life. Equipped with a blog as well (reformation theology), visit it and find any subject you want to study and you'll find hundreds of articles on that subject. I go there all the time. You will too.

Saving the best for last.......

8. BIBLICALTHOUGHT.com

The NEW Reformation begins here! Many of you know, I'm friends with these guys. They are wonderful men of God who truly want to inform the Christian world at large about what's going on. I trust them and have had the pleasure of joining these guys in theological conversation, pints of Guinness and clove cigarette's (I love being Reformed!) I know their hearts and have learned a lot as I've dialogued with them and others on the blog. Visit them and read what they have to say. You won't regret it.

My 100th Post!!!!!

Here it is. My 100th post. This was the second time I started a blog. This time I
actually kept it up. I've kept it up so that I could inform, think, and present my ideas to you and hopefully get feedback. I hope to have more book reviews up soon, as well as more articles on the philosophical theological bent. Thanks to all of you who read my blog and comment (how I crave those!) and have been very supporting. A few of those include:

THE ORDER

The college group at Faith Community Church. I started this to give you my book and movie reviews. Thanks for your support. I hope to give you more of what I have to offer. I do it with joy in the hopes that I can be a helpful part of your body. I consider you all my friends and peers and great companions of the journey. Special thanks to Meaghan for reading (and for listening, thanks mademoiselle!) and Beck's for commenting. Ok, Glenn too.

Mig Martinez

My oldest friend at the Order. Since childhood, you've proven again and again to be a man of great humor and wisdom. I am a better thinker because of you. It's been a very long road, and I'm glad you've been on it.


Jonathan Chan

For always talking about the great ideas with me. I hope i can preach like you some day. And for being the only other reformed guy (that I know of) at school. And for reminding me that God cares about the less fortunate.





Biblicalthought.com
Many thanks to you guys for your great blog, and Stephen Macasil for being an encouraging fellow blogger, and for never being too busy to talk shop or give encouragement. And for making me a better thinker as well.





Dr. Bob

Very Special thanks to Dr. Bob of Faith Community for all he has taught us. I have learned more from him than 4 years at Bible College. The most important things anyway. A truly great man who will leave a lasting legacy.






Josh England

My personal cultural savior. Yes, I'm more culturally savvy because of you. Thanks for being the very first person to get me to blog. If it ever leads to a book, I will have you to thank. I will continue to question, ponder and write because of you. You are the best pal.

I leave you with something I found. It's from Max Maclane's reading of the Valley of Vision.

Blog of note: Purgatorio

What can I say. We Christians don't always have a sense of humor. PURGATORIO does. And it does it with a vengeance. This guy's blog has more endorsements that Shaq in his best days. What's funny is that all sorts of people like this blog. The guys seems to be Reformed (like I said, they have the best humor) and I love the emblem of the tipped over cow. The message? Watch out suburban Christianity. We're coming for your sacred cows. The cool thing is that he expects people to comment and you can get a gravatar for your posts. Your specific pic will come up (Mine is of Darth Stewie) He puts up old Christian vinyl albums (and somehow gets really old pics of Christian leaders) and puts them up for people to have fun with. Very funny stuff. Go visit.

** note I am not just endorsing this guy cause he added me to his links. But it played a role. Thanks man.

OUT OF CONTEXT

Watch the video first!!!


Hopefully you've watched and it thought: Wow that was interesting. Too bad that wasn't what really happened. Truth is it happens with our words too. I posted earlier about Rick Warren quoting scripture out of context and making verses say what they don't mean. I must admit, I have seen well intentioned people try to make other people/ministries say what they don't mean. I won't say who (yet) but for all of us who are out here trying to get the word out on this idea or that bad idea, please quote people in context and their entirety when making allegations against them. Much like the film clip above, you can easily distort what someone says and make them mean something they didn't. This ought not to be. Especially when it comes to a fellow brother or sister in Christ.